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Sitting on the Stoop
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Old cars, timeless stoop
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The stoop was the centerpiece of the urban landscape. First and foremost, it
was a place where you'd hang out, an "open air meeting hall" for you and your
pals. You could sit on the stoop by yourself, and watch what was going on
down the block, or you could hang out with your friends, talk, play, and watch
what was going on down the block. Stoops maximized the number of guys that
could fit into a small area through combined vertical and horizontal seating.
This close proximity was ideal for good conversation, card swapping, head
smacking and all kinds of horseplay.
A good stoop needed the proper physical attributes, carved rocks with the
right width, texture and height, but even more importantly, a good stoop had
to have the right "feel". You had to like hanging out on it, and you had to
be on good footing with the person who owned or managed the house. Perhaps
they'd let you sit for awhile without chasing you off. Perhaps they'd even
let you play ball.
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